Disney Will Open Avatar Land in Orlando Next Summer

Disney has been on its toes since Universal changed the game in Orlando with Harty Potter. Will Avatar change the conversation again?

— Jason Clampet

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Walt Disney Co., the world’s largest theme-park operator, announced a summer 2017 opening for a new themed land tied to the hit film “Avatar.”

Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek gave a construction update on Saturday while speaking at a fan event in Orlando, Florida.

The attraction, under construction at the company’s Animal Kingdom park in Orlando, will feature floating mountains and bioluminescent rainforest plants, seen via a boat ride along the fictional Na’vi River, the company said in a statement.

It’s the latest in a series of investments that Disney has made in its parks division. The Burbank, California-based entertainment giant opened a $5.5 billion resort in Shanghai in June that drew 4 million guests in its first four months. Disney is also building “Star Wars”-themed lands at its parks in Orlando and Anaheim, California.

The construction boom is part of an arms race of sorts between Disney, Comcast Corp.’s Universal Studios, and other theme-park operators. They’ve found splashy new attractions can lead to increased attendance and higher ticket prices.

“Avatar,” the 2009 film directed by James Cameron, is the top-grossing film in history, with worldwide receipts of almost $2.8 billion. It follow humans attempting to exploit Pandora, a planet inhabited by 10-foot tall, blue-skinned creatures. The film was released by 21st Century Fox Inc.’s studio. Four sequels are planned, starting in 2018.